This week we are taking a look at community art. At least that is what I call it.

More and more communities are creating large public art projects as a way to entice visitors to their communities. I always think of it as a fun way to expose the kids to art and it also makes for an inexpensive One Tank Trip.

For example in Cleveland there are several good examples of public art. My favorite happens to be the “Free Stamp” that stands beside Cleveland City Hall. Designed by famed sculptor Claes Oldenburg, it was originally slated to stand in front of the Standard Oil building on Public Square. But before the sculpture was delivered Standard Oil was sold to BP, (yep, those wonderful folks who brought us the Gulf oil spill), and they apparantly did not share the same artistic tastes as Standard Oil officials and so the big stamp was placed in storage for seven years. It finally was donated to the city of Cleveland where it has become a favorite photo spot for visitors.

Then there is the “Field of corn” in Dublin, Ohio. Here the local arts council has sponsored a field filled with 108 human-sized concrete ears of corn planted in neat rows where once a real farmer’s corn-field once stood. It is supposed to celebrate the farm heritage of the city of Dublin, a suburb of Columbus. It is located at 4995 Ring Road in Dublin.

Also in Dublin you will find the memorial to native American Wyandotte Indian Chief Leatherlips. The memorial built of pieces of sandstone is sort of an American version of the sphinx. It is located in Scioto Park, 7377 Riverside Dr., in Dublin.

You can read more about these works of public art and others in my book, “Ohio Oddities” which is available at most major book stores or on Amazon